Chapter 3. Did You Join an Escort Agency?

Sherry was sitting above the wall. Dangling her feet. She was about to light another cigarette when suddenly a hard hit at her head made the lighter jump out of her fist.

“Aouch! Sarah! That could have been fatal!”

“Fatal? Fatal how?” Sarah jumped over the wall as she positioned herself beside her friend. Banging both her legs on either of the wall as she talked.

“I could have slipped, hit my head against that rock and suffered internal hemorrhage.” The way Sherry explained, made it seem like it had really happened.

“That was descriptive. Anyways why are you here? Did you lose this job as well?” Sarah snatched the cigarette in her hand from her and lit it for herself.

“Thanks.” She smiled at Scarlet who made a face.

“What happened this time? Did you get into a fight? Did they accuse you of stealing? Did you break something? Did they not pay you? Is there any new angle to this story?” Sarah arched her brows and made them dance.

Tweeeeeet!

Tweeeeeet!

Tweeet!

Sherry blew a couple of whistles. That was another stress buster.

“Yeah. The same old. But I swear it wasn’t my fault this time. That lady was standing right beside the ceramic statue. I was just sweeping. I came to clean the spot she was standing on. I asked her to move. She did. And the statue fell. Would you believe what they did?”

Sherry pulled her T-shirt up to show Sarah the raw wound. It was about ten to fifteen inches long.

“Ieessshh! Bloody animals. How could they, when it wasn’t even your fault? Bloody...!” And Sarah graced them with her musical of abuse.

“Enough, enough. Sarah. I think that’s enough. They are not even here to hear what you are saying.” Sherry’s words made her stop and look around. As if she didn’t already know it.

It made Sherry giggle.

She and her weird friend. They were the best combination on the planet. A match made in heaven.

“You know, they said it was very precious. Ummm, something like a relic.”

Sherry was feeling guilty for no reason.

“Nah! They were probably bluffing. Relics are way too expensive to be in a pawn shop. They must made it up to taunt you. Besides, you would be in jail for damaging a relic. Not sitting here, sulking and drawing on this cigarette.”

Sherry took the lit cigarette from Sarah’s hand and pulled a few rounds. She blew the smoke out in circles. Sarah did something with her hand around it and it turned into a heart and then vanished.

“One more.” Sarah seemed excited.

Sherry blew out one more.

This time Sarah made it into a balloon with a tail.

“Cool.”

Sarah clapped her hands. Impressed at her own art work.

“One more, one more...” Sarah was rubbing her hand. Getting ready for her next attempt.

But Sherry stopped. She thrust the cigarette back in Sarah’s hand.

“I will need a new one you know. Like a new one that pays me over night. Father’s bills are due for about three months. They will not carry on with his treatment if I don’t clear at least some of it by the end of this month.” Sherry hung her head low as she jumped off and kicked a rock.

“And?” Sarah urged her to finish the part that was bugging her from the inside. The reason Sherry had called her but hung up without saying a word. Her phone had been switched off ever since. But Sarah knew she would be here. Her favorite sulking spot. The old abandoned building by the cliff. With a view of the sea, splashing endlessly against the dead rocks. And the sky kissing the end of the ocean as it bent it’s majestic self.

“I called Rosey up. She fixed me up with her Agency. They sent me my first appointment.” Sherry could not even bring herself to look up at her friend’s face.

“Sherry! Sherry look at me.” Sarah turned her towards herself by pulling at her shoulder. “Did you join an Escort Agency?”

Sherry nodded.

“Sherry!” Sarah couldn’t find words to articulate her feelings. She took a deep breath.

“Ok. Let me tell you this straight up. I know you need the money. I know your situation but girl, you can’t go for this appointment or whatever. Look. You are not meant for this. You. Look at you. You can’t even talk to be about it. How will you even strip naked in front of a completely unknown man?”

Sarah’s question sent a chilly shudder down her spine. The mere thought of serving herself to someone unknown was making her feet cold.

“I, ummm, but I... I need the money they are willing to pay up. It’s more than my entire months’ worth of salary. It will help clear all our debts. Maybe... maybe I could even take father to a better place for treatment.” She was fidgeting with her fingers as she spoke.

Sarah watched and then heaved a sigh.

“You know Sherry, I myself live a life of want, if not begging. But I have never longed for money. Whatever I make, selling those drawing of mine on the road, sees me through the day.”

She slowly walked up to Sherry and patted her back.

“But I really felt the need for money today. I really hoped I was rich enough to give you everything that you ever wanted. I really...”

Sherry pulled her into a sudden hug. Sarah could not finish her sentence. Tears built up in both their eyes.

“Okay. I don’t know if you will end up going or not,” Sarah quickly wiped her tears to get back to business, “but if you go, remember your safety is the number one priority. No amount of money could compensate for that. Alright?”

Sherry nodded.

“Take all the necessary precautions and do not hesitate to call me any moment. Any time. Do you understand?”

Sherry nodded again.